Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh delivered a powerful performance in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby, taking the crown with 18 home runs in the final round. With his father serving as pitcher and his younger brother behind the plate, Raleigh’s night turned into a memorable family moment as he became the first catcher to win the event since it began.
The path to victory wasn’t without suspense. Raleigh narrowly escaped elimination in the opening round, where he tied with Oakland’s Brent Rooker at 17 home runs. A tiebreaker based on longest homer gave Raleigh the edge by a margin of less than an inch, allowing him to advance to the next stage. From there, he gained momentum and didn’t look back.
In the semifinals, Raleigh went head-to-head with Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz, whose massive swings had already sent a 513-foot shot deep into the Atlanta night. Despite Cruz’s raw power, Raleigh’s consistency proved decisive. He cleared 19 balls in the round to secure his spot in the final.
On the other side of the bracket, 22-year-old Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays showed promise beyond his years, knocking out Minnesota’s Byron Buxton with an early burst of home runs. Caminero looked strong entering the final and threatened to surpass Raleigh, but his pace slowed during the timed session. He finished with 15 total, three short of Raleigh’s 18.
Raleigh’s success is the latest chapter in what has been a breakout season. Entering the All-Star break, he leads the league with 38 home runs and is on pace to challenge the American League single-season record. His Derby win makes him the second Mariners player to earn the title, following Ken Griffey Jr., who won the contest three times in the 1990s.
Switch-hitting throughout the event, Raleigh showed off his versatility at the plate. Though he alternated early on, he settled in batting left-handed in the later rounds, where he found his rhythm and piled up homers in rapid succession. At one point, he hit six in a row across a timeout break — three before and three after.
The presence of his family made the evening even more meaningful. Raleigh’s father, Todd, threw pitches with calm precision, while Raleigh’s teenage brother caught each ball behind the plate, turning the Derby into a family showcase. Speaking afterward, Raleigh expressed how special the experience was for them all.
Several other competitors had standout moments. Oneil Cruz’s 513-foot homer was one of the longest ever recorded outside of high-altitude stadiums. Caminero’s early surge demonstrated his potential as one of the league’s rising sluggers. Even those eliminated in the first round, like James Wood and Matt Olson, contributed to a lively night of offense.
Raleigh now prepares to catch for the American League in the All-Star Game with a new title in hand. For a player once overlooked, the Derby victory affirms what fans in Seattle have come to expect: Raleigh belongs among the game’s top power hitters — and he’s just getting started.
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